• Proceedings of the Korean Information Science Society Conference
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• 2011.06c
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• pp.195-197
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• 2011

This research deals with an issue of preventive medicine in bioinformatics. We can diagnose liver conditions reasonably well to prevent Liver Cirrhosis by classifying liver disorder patients into fatty liver and high risk groups. The classification proceeds in two steps. Classification rules are first built by clustering five attributes (MCV, ALP, ALT, ASP, and GGT) of blood test dataset provided by the UCI Repository. The clusters can be formed by the K-mean method that analyzes multi dimensional attributes. We analyze the properties of each cluster divided into fatty liver, high risk and normal classes. The classification rules are generated by the analysis. In this paper, we suggest a method to diagnosis and predict liver condition to alcoholic patient according to risk levels using the classification rule from the new results of blood test. The K-mean classifier has been found to be more accurate for the result of blood test and provides the risk of fatty liver to normal liver conditions.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.172-179
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• 2018

Background: This study aimed to compare preliminary data on the outcomes of sutureless aortic valve replacement (SU-AVR) with those of aortic valve replacement (AVR). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of SU-AVR in moderate- to high-risk patients from 2013 to 2016. Matching was performed at a 1:1 ratio using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons predicted risk of mortality score with sex and age. The primary outcome was 30-day mortality. The secondary outcomes were operative outcomes and complications. Results: A total of 277 patients were studied. Ten patients (50% males; median age, 81.5 years) underwent SU-AVR. Postoperative echocardiography showed impressive outcomes in the SU-AVR group. The 30-day mortality was 10% in both groups. In our study, the patients in the SU-AVR group developed postoperative thrombocytopenia. Platelet counts decreased from $225{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ preoperatively to 94.5, 54.5, and $50.1{\times}10^3/{\mu}L$ on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3, respectively, showing significant differences compared with the AVR group (p=0.04, p=0.16, and p=0.20, respectively). The median amount of platelet transfusion was higher in the AVR group (12.5 vs. 0 units, p=0.052). Conclusion: There was no difference in the 30-day mortality of moderate-to high-risk patients depending on whether they underwent SU-AVR or AVR. Although SU-AVR is associated with favorable cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp times, it may be associated with postoperative thrombocytopenia.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1220-1229
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• 2020

Objective: Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is considered a reliable alternative to surgical biopsy for suspicious calcifications. In most cases, the management of flat epithelial atypia (FEA) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) after VABB with residual calcifications requires surgical excision. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pathology of non-calcified specimens on the underestimation of malignancy. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1147 consecutive cases of stereotactic VABB of suspicious calcifications without mass from January 2010 to December 2016 and identified 46 (4.0%) FEA and 52 (4.5%) ADH cases that were surgically excised for the retrieval of residual calcifications. Mammographic features and pathology of the calcified and non-calcified specimens were reviewed. Results: Seventeen specimens (17.3%) were upgraded to malignancy. Mammographic features associated with the underestimation of malignancy were calcification extent (> 34.5 mm: odds ratio = 6.059, p = 0.026). According to the pathology of calcified versus non-calcified specimens, four risk groups were identified: Group A (ADH vs. high-risk lesions), Group B (ADH vs. non-high-risk lesions), Group C (FEA vs. high-risk lesions), and Group D (FEA vs. non-high-risk lesions). The lowest underestimation rate was observed in Group D (Group A vs. Group B vs. Group C vs. Group D: 35.0% vs. 20.0% vs. 15.0% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.041, respectively). Conclusion: Considering that the calcification extent and pathology of non-calcified specimens may be beneficial in determining the likelihood of malignancy underestimation, excision after FEA or ADH diagnosis by VABB is required, except for the diagnoses of FEA coexisting without atypia lesions in non-calcified specimens.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.460-467
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• 2015

Objectives: Excess sodium intake has been linked to obesity and obesity-related indices. However, the scientific evidence for this association is inadequate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between urinary sodium excretion and obesity-related indices among Korean adults. Methods: A convenience sample of 120 subjects (60 obese and 60 non-obese subjects) were recruited applying frequency matching for sex and age between two groups. Sodium intake level was assessed through 24-hour urine collection. Obesity-related metabolic risk factors, including fasting blood lipid indices, subcutaneous and visceral fat through computed tomography (CT), insulin resistance indices, blood pressure and liver enzymes were measured in all subjects. These obesity-related metabolic risk factors were compared between obese and non-obese group according to sodium excretion levels (<110 mEq/day, 110~180 mEq/day, >180 mEq/day). Results: After adjusting for age, gender, health behaviors (smoking, exercise, drinking), and energy intake, several obesity-related metabolic risk factors, including abdominal circumference, body fat percentage, subcutaneous and visceral fat, triglyceride, and systolic blood pressure were found to be significantly deteriorated as the sodium excretion level increases. In addition, multivariate adjusted-odds ratios of abdominal obesity, high blood triglyceride, and high blood pressure were found significantly higher in the highest sodium excretion group compared to the lowest group. The mean number of metabolic syndrome risk factors was also significantly greater in the highest sodium excretion group than in the lowest group. Conclusions: The current study findings suggested that high sodium intake can affect obesity and metabolic syndrome risk negatively, implying the necessity of future research on low-sodium diet intervention in relation to obesity and related health problems.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4131-4136
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• 2016

Background: The population in northeast Thailand continues to present with hepatobiliary abnormalities, particularly periductal fibrosis (PDF) which is the result of chronic infection with liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverini; OV) and may lead to the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Although the prevalence of OV infection has been decreased due to a liver fluke control program over decades, the prevalence of PDF remains high. This study aimed to investigate demographic factors associated with PDF risk based on ultrasonography (US) screening. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP), a prospective cohort study. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: In 55,246 subjects, the overall prevalence of PDF was 33.0% (95%CI: 32.6 - 33.4). Males (33.9 %) were at higher risk for developing PDF than females (32.2 %) (ORcrude = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.89 - 0.96; p-value < 0.001). Factors associated with an increased PDF risk, in addition to OV infection, included old age (${\geq}70$ years) (ORadj = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.44, p < 0.001) and hepatitis B infection (ORadj = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11 - 1.55, p = 0.001). In contrast, number of praziquantel treatments (> 2 times) (ORadj = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.47 - 0.63, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (ORadj = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49 - 0.65, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a decreased PDF risk. Conclusions: Future US screening should closely examine older people and hepatitis B subjects for the purpose of PDF surveillance among high risk groups for CCA. However, the results of inverse associations require further investigation in order to confirm our findings.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.2413-2418
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• 2015

Background: Although adjuvant chemotherapy is a standard treatment in stage III colon cancer, its benefit is not as clear for stage II patients. In this retrospective analysis, we aimed to evaluate the survival of patients with low-risk stage II colon cancer, the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy in high-risk stage II colon cancer patients, and prognostic factors in stage II disease. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients who were diagnosed with stage II colon cancer between January 2006 and December 2011 were included in the study. Patients were stratified into two groups as being low-risk and high-risk according to risk factors for stage II disease. Adjuvant 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy were administered to the patients with risk factors. Results: Ninety-four patients were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy due to high risk factors and 23 were monitored without treatment. Median follow-up time was 43 months. In terms of disease free survival and overall survival, adjuvant chemotherapy did not provide a statistically significant difference. Univariate analysis demonstrated that bowel obstruction was the major risk factor for shortened disease-free survival, while bowel perforation and perineural invasion were both negative prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusions: The recommendation of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II colon cancer is not clear. In our study, it was found that adjuvant chemotherapy did not contribute to survival in high-risk stage II patients. Due to the fact that prognosis of stage II patients is good, many more patients will be needed for statistically significant differences in survival. Adjuvant chemotherapy containing 5 fluorouracil is being used to high-risk stage II patients although it is not a standard treatment approach.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.19-31
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality and assure the hygienic safety of the Bibimbap production in elementary school foodservice in accordance with the HACCP(Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Point) program. The time-temperature relationship and the microbiological quality(total plate count and coliform bacteria count) were assessed to find the critical control point(CCP) during each of the production phase. In the pre-preparation phase, the risk factors of the raw ingredients exceeded the standard level suggested by Solberg et al. Mungbean starch jelly, egg and Kochujang were satisfactory in that no coliform groups were observed over the standard TPC level. In particular, there was a high the risk of beef from the early stages in terms of the coliform level. In the pre-preparation phase, green pumpkin had more coliform groups than the standard level even after washed, which calls for special attention to washing, sterilization, secondary infection of the handler, and the required time for pre-preparation of raw vegetables. In the cooking phase, the temperature of the soybean sprout and mungbean starch jelly decreased to 42$^{\circ}C$ and 26$^{\circ}C$, respectively, which was within the risk zone. In particular, mungbean starch jelly had a great risk factor even after boiling in hot water. During the storage stage before serving, a lot of ingredients were exposed to poor management of temperature and time and thus exceeded the standard level in the total plate counts. In particular, the microbiological count of beef was five times the standard level. Green pumpkins and soybean sprouts were left at 15-38$^{\circ}C$ that is within the risk zone for a long period of time after they were cooked. It is highly recommended that the time of the storage stage before consumption should be shortened and that proper devices should be used to prevent proliferation of bacteria. The number of TPC of the utensils was satisfactory enough, but the knife used exceeded the standard level and thus was a risk factor of bacteria proliferation.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2012

The research is performed in order to know the relationship between the metabolic syndrome and the physical fitness targeted for menopausal women (over 45 years). All subjects were divided into 4 groups; group without risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS-0: n=74), group having one risk factor of metabolic syndrome (MS-1: n=68), group having two risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS-2: n=44), and group having more than three risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MS ${\geq}$ 3: n=30). All groups' height, weight, body mass index and percent of body fat were measured. High density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), triglyceride, glucose and blood pressure (BP) levels were measured. Their cardiorespiratory ($VO_2max$) endurance, muscular strength, muscle endurance, and flexibility were measured. HDL, triglyceride, glucose and BP levels in MS-1, MS-2, and MS ${\geq}$ 3 group were significantly greater than those of MS-0 group. The endurance ($VO_2max$) in MS ${\geq}$ 3 group was higher than that of MS-0 group. Multiple regression with the risk factors of metabolic syndrome and the physical fitness showed a statistical significance in only $VO_2max$. We found that the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome adversely affect postmenopausal women's $VO_2max$ and that a decreased $VO_2max$ may have prognostic value for the prediction of metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2008

Objective : Burr hole drainage has been widely used to treat chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, the incidence of recurrent CSDH varies from 3.7 to 30% after surgery. The authors attempted to elucidate the risk factors associated with the recurrence of CSDH in one burr hole drainage technique. Methods : A total of 255 consecutive cases who underwent one burr hole drainage for CSDH were included in this study. Twenty-four patients (9.4%) underwent a repeated operation because of the recurrence of CSDH. We analyzed retrospectively the demographic, clinical and radiologic factors associated with the recurrence of CSDH. Results : In this study, two risk factors were found to be independently associated with the recurrence of CSDH. The incidence of CSDH recurrence in the high- and mixed-density groups was significantly higher than those in the low- and iso-density groups (p<0.001). Bleeding tendency such as in leukemia, liver disease and chronic renal failure was also significantly associated with recurrence of CSDH (p=0.037). Conclusion : These results suggest that high- and mixed- density shown on computed tomographic scan was closely relates with a high incidence of recurrence. Therefore, the operation could be delayed in those cases unless severe symptoms or signs are present. Reoperation using the previous burr hole site is a preferred modality to treat the recurrent CSDH.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Physical Medicine
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.11-20
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• 2020

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of Nordic walking on depression and the physical function of elderly patients with a high risk of depression. METHODS: This study was a blinded randomized allocation study; 32 elderly were assigned to a Nordic walking group (n = 17), consisting of 60 min Nordic walking (including warming up 5 min, warming down 5 min, and Nordic walking 50 min) two days per week for 12 weeks and general leisure group (n = 15), consisting of 60 min leisure program community center. The pre and post 12-week program, depression test, muscle strength (including grip test, and 30sec sit to stand), and balance (including Functional Reach test, and One Leg Standing test) were measured. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare within the group, and a Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare between the groups. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, only the Nordic walking group showed significant improvement in depression, muscle strength, and balance (p < .05). In the general leisure group, however, the left grip strength and Functional Reach Test (FRT) showed a significant decrease. The Nordic walking program was better than the general leisure group, and a significant difference was observed in depression, muscle strength, and balance between the two groups (p < .05). CONCLUSION: Nordic walking was effective for the elderly with a high risk of depression. Therefore, Nordic walking may be an option for preventing elderly mental disorders and functional improvement.